7/3/18 – Leviticus 15, Leviticus 16 Mark 13:32-37, Mark 14:1-16 Psalm 31:1-8

Today’s Contributions are from Pastor Cliff Henderson:

The Day of Atonement Leviticus Chapter 16.
Israel’s annual day of Atonement was something like a spiritual spring clean, on this day a solemn judgement took place in Israel.
All the people were to confess every sin and those who refused were that very day cut of forever from the camp of Israel Lev 23 v 29, ( each person was responsible for putting their own sin away)
The High Priest every year on this day would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for the sins of the entire Nation.
The day of Atonement was a most solemn day when sin was judged.
Jesus who is our great High Priest by His sacrificial death on the cross made atonement for the sin not just for the nation of Israel, but for the sins of the whole world, “behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world”JOHN 1 v29. Unlike the High Priest who did this once every year, Jesus did this once and for all time.
Thank God when we received Christ into our lives the sin that was going to condemn us to a Christless eternity was forever forgiven. Jesus has done His part now we must do ours. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we still sin, “if we say that we have not sinned we make Him a liar and His Word is not in us” 1 John 1 v 10, this is sin that does not lead us to death( eternal separation from God, however it does spoil our relationship with God and our service for Him. It is because of this that we are obligated just like the children of Israel were on the day of Atonement to put away all sin, the exhortation in 1 John 1 v9 was written to believers to Christians “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
Everyday ( TODAY) let us keep short accounts with God, and today make sure that we are walking in the Iight. 1John 1 v 6-7.

The Anointing at Bethany Mark 14 v 3-9
Jesus is in Bethany having a meal in the house of Simon the leper, was Simon still a leper? I believe this was a celebratory meal that Simon had out on in honour of Jesus who had healed him of his leprosy, had Simon still had leprosy he would have been an outcast from society lived amongst other lepors in the lepor colonies and according to Jewish law classed as unclean.This meal was to show his gratitude and to say thank you to Jesus for healing him.
It was at this meal that a woman came with an alabaster flask of very costly ointment (spikenard) the cost of the oil was the equivalent of almost a year’s wages. John in his account of this event names the woman as Mary of Bethany, this is the Mary whose brother Lazarus who only a few days previously Jesus had raised from the dead, this miracle had the whole of Jerusalem and the surrounding area talking about it, a notable miracle indeed for Lazarus had been dead for 4 days.
When like Simon and Mary your heart is filled with thankfulness for all the Lord has done for you there is no limits to the way you want to express your gratitude to Him.
Jesus deserves our best, let us be extravagant in showing our devotion to Him, God doesn’t want our left overs He wants our best, he who is forgiven much loves much.
Jesus less than 2 days after this event was hanging upon a cross dying for the sins of the whole world with the fragrance of what Mary had done still upon Him, “She has come beforehand to anoint my body for burial. Assuredly I say to you wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her” v8-9, and today we are remembering this wonderful act of gratitude that Mary did for Jesus.
A cup of cold water given in his name the bible says will be rewarded, God sees your work and labour of love and it gladdens his heart, He deserves the best that we can give Him.

Psalm 31 v 1-8 God is our Deliverer
Today God wants to remind you that no matter what you are facing He is your Deliver.
“God is our refuge and strength a very present help in the time of trouble” Psalm46 v1 “He will not allow you to be tested above what you are able to endure but He will with the testing make a way of escape for you” 1 Cor 10 v13.
The Word if the Lord to you today is “I will Deliver You” be encouraged
Verse 1 Deliver me in Your righteousness
Verse 2 Deliver me speedily.